DOJ: Bridgeport man faces up to 10 years in prison

Updated 7:22 pm, Tuesday, November 7, 2017

Robert ”Pookie” Bowens, 34, was taken into custody on May 9, 2017, by members of the U.S. Marshal Violent Crime Fugitive Task Force in Bridgeport, Conn.

Robert ”Pookie” Bowens, 34, was taken into custody on May 9, 2017, by members of the U.S. Marshal Violent Crime Fugitive Task Force in Bridgeport, Conn.

Photo: Contributed Photo / Contributed Photo

DOJ: Bridgeport man faces up to 10 years in prison

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BRIDGEPORT — More than 10 years ago, Robert “Pookie” Bowens was known as the leader of a gang that tormented the city’s West Side.

But now, 34-year-old Bowens faces up to 10 years imprisonment after he pleaded guilty Monday to possession of a firearm by a previously convicted felon, the Department of Justice said.

Connecticut State Police stopped a vehicle on Interstate 95 in Bridgeport on April 22, which the DOJ said was operated by Bowens. Court documents and statements made in court indicated that Bowens attempted to flee from state troopers after they found sevearl illegal items in his vehicle during a consented motor vehicle search.

In an attempt to flee, the DOJ said Bowens pulled out a 9mm handgun that troopers managed to knock from his hand. As Bowens continued to struggle with troopers, a Sport Utility Vehicle arrived at the scene. Eventually, Bowens broke free from the troopers on scene and jumped into the SUV that fled, the DOJ said.

After a multi-agency manhunt for Bowens that lasted more than two weeks, he was apprehended on May 9 on Pearl Harbor Streets without incident, police said. He has been detained since his arrest, the DOJ said.

Bowens was charged with two counts of first-degree criminal attempted assault, two counts of assaulting a police officer, reckless driving, criminal possession of a firearm, carrying weapons in a motor vehicle, possessing a pistol without a permit, criminal possession of ammunition and criminal possession of an electronic defense weapon, police said.

On Monday, Bowens pleaded guilty to one one count of possession of a firearm by a previously convicted felon. Federal law prohibits a person previously convicted of a felony offense to possess a firearm or ammunition.

A look at Bowens’ criminal history revealed state felony convictions for possession with intent to sell, criminal possession of a weapon and forgery.

Police said Bowens also had a prior federal conviction for which he was sentenced to serve 57 months in federal prison back in May 2009, followed by two years of supervised release. That sentencing came after he was convicted of possession of an assault rifle, a pistol and 62 rounds of ammunition, police said.

In June 2015, Bowens was released from federal custody.

When he is sentenced, the DOJ said Bowens faces up to 10 years in prison. If he is found guilty of violating his supervised released, he will face an additional term of imprisonment.